Container



Aug. 4, 1964 M. SMITH CONTAINER Filed Aug. 8, 1962 FIG. I

W% INVENTOR. WW W United States Patent "ice 3,143,153 CGNTAINER Martha Smith, 81 Jordan Road, Brookline, Mass. Filed Aug. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 215,708 4 Claims. (Cl. 15011) The present invention relates to storage containers for wearing apparel and more particularly to a two-compartment container for storing and/or carrying shoes.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a two-compartment, portable storage container for shoes which may be easily and neatly suspended from a support for storage purposes. It is an important feature of the storage container of this invention that it may be hung from a horizontal support even though the horizontal support does not have a free end. This feature enables the storage container to be suspended from closet poles and the like in convenient accessible positions.

It is another object of this invention to provide a storage container in accordance with the preceding object which is extremely compact and may be folded into a minimum area prior to usage. Thus the storage containers themselves may be neatly and conveniently stored in a closet or other location until such time as it is desired to store and hang shoes within the containers.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a storage container in accordance with the preceding objects which prevents moisture and dust particles from settling on articles stored within the containers yet readily allows visual access to inner areas thereof so that the contents of the containers may be easily determined.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a storage container in accordance with the preceding objects which is relatively inexpensive yet durable, attractive to the eye and may be hand-carried as a traveling container for shoes or other objects.

In accordance with the invention, the storage container has a first and second pocket. The pockets are formed of a substantially opaque pliable material. A transparent panel on each pocket forms a window in each pocket allowing visual access to the inside of the pockets. A means for opening and closing the pockets is mounted on one portion of each of the pockets. A pliable strand extends between each of the pockets and has end portions attached to the pockets so that the strand may be looped over a horizontal support with the pockets balanced on either side of the support. In a preferred form, the strand comprises a closed loop or circle with ends of the circle mounted on individual pockets and acting as a drawstring for closing an opening in each of the pockets.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specifications when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of this invention showing a front view of one pocket and a side view of a second pocket; and

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a single compartment of this invention.

A two-compartment shoe container of this invention is indicated generally at 11 in FIG. 1 and preferably has two individual pockets 12 and 13 linked to each other by a supporting or hanging means 14.

Preferably both pockets 12 and 13 are of identical size and construction. Therefore in order to simplify the description only one pocket 13 will be fully described.

The pocket 13 is preferably formed of a single rectangular sheet of a pliable material folded along a bottom edge 22 to form a front section 17 and an identically sized rear section 18. Side edges of the front section 17 are afiixed to corresponding side edges of the rear section 18 by conventional means such as a row of stitching 3,143,153 Patented Aug. 4, 1964 25 as shown in FIG. 1. The top edges of sections 17 and 13 preferably are not sewn together and provide an opening at neck 19 extending across the width of the pocket. According to conventional practice the top edges of sections 17 and 18 may be folded back on themselves and stitched to form finished edges.

The use of a fold line 22 at the bottom edge of the pockets, rather than a line of stitching, is preferred since this feature increases the strength of the pocket and its ability to hold and support heavy articles.

A rectangular cut-out section 29 is provided on the front section 17 of the pocket 13. A transparent panel 16 having an outer perimeter of substantially the same or slightly larger dimension than the cut-out section 29 is stitched to the front section 17 along the edge of the cut-out section 29. The transparent panel 16 preferably comprises a strong plastic material such as a clear nylon film. Alternatively, other plastic materials in thin film or sheet form may be employed. The transparent panel 16 forms a window enabling visual access to the inner portion of the pocket between front section 17 and rear section 18. Nonetheless, dust and moisture are prevented from entering the pocket 13 through the cutout 29 by the transparent'plastic material employed. This feature of the invention is particularly important since the con' tents of the pocket 13 may be seen easily without opening the pocket. Y

Preferably, a zipper 20 is located on the rear section 18 of the pocket and provides a means foropening and closing the pocket so that shoes may be placed within or taken out of the pockets when desired. In certain modifications of the invention it is possible to use conventional snap fasteners or buttons in place of the zipper 20.

A series of aligned loops 15 are stitched to the outside of sections 17 and 18 and comprise a means for mounting a pull string 14 on each of the pockets 12 and 13. The particular means for mounting the drawstring 14 may vary considerably. For example in certain applications the string may be enclosed within a folded over top edge of the neck 19.

The drawstring 14 preferably comprises a braided or woven rope or strand extending between and connecting pockets 12 and 13. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawstring 14 comprises a conventional strand of braided clothesline. Preferably the strand is an endless loop which provides two sections, A and B extending between pockets 12 and 13.

The attractiveness and decorative appearance of the pockets 12 and 13 may be enhanced by various means. For example, it is preferred to employ different colors for the material used in each pocket. Thus, the pocket 12 may be red while pocket 13 is blue. Similarly, the pockets may be of the same colors or may contain varying similar or different printed or woven patterns; Markings may be provided on the bag in accordance with usage. Thus, pocket 12 can be imprinted with the legend His while pocket 13 imprinted with the legend Hers. In certain modifications the transparent windows for the pockets employed may have outer configurations adding to the decorative effect. Thus, the outer configuration of the windows or pockets may take the shape of a shoe, a man, a woman, a clown, an animal, etc.

Preferably each of the pockets 12 and 13 are substantially identical in size thereby allowing equal weights of shoes to be placed in each pocket. The maximum dimensions for each pocket generally comprises a width of 18 inches and a height of 24 inches and preferably a width of 12 inches and a height of 14 inches. When bags above this size are employed the material of the front and rear sections must be specially selected to withstand great stresses due to heavy weights which may be placed in the bag. Preferably the transparent panel 16 is made as small as possible consistent with full visual access to the inner portion of the pocket. A ratio of less than 1 to 8 inches of panel area to front section area is preferred. The pullstring 14 preferably has an overall length from ends C and D as shown in FIG. 1 of approximately 13 inches thereby allowing only one pocket to be fully opened at 19 at any one period of time. The exact length of the pullstring 14 may vary but is preferably equal to the width of one pocket plus the closed circumference of the neck 19 formed by edge of the second pocket. The second pocket is drawn together or closed as shown in FIG. 1 when pocket 13 is opened. This feature is significant in that shoes positioned within the pocket 12 remain in the bag and do not tend to fall out when the pocket 13 is opened along its top edge or neck lfi.

The use of the two compartment shoe container of this invention is extremely simple. Preferably an equal number of shoes is placed within each of the two pockets 12 and 13. In smaller containers a single shoe of each pair may be placed within each pocket 12 and 13 while in larger containers, two or more shoes may be placed in each pocket. Preferably the zippers 20 are opened to place shoes within the pockets. However, the openings formed at the neck portions 19 may be also used to allow entrance of shoes within the pockets.

After the shoes to be stored or carried are placed in the pocket, the drawstring 14 may be hung on any suitable horizontal support such as a hook or closet.

pole shown at 21 in FIG. 1. The equal weight of each pocket 12 and 13 balances the container on the horla zontal support without the use of special hooks. Thus, the containers may be hung in any desired location and do not take up floor or shelf space.

In the hanging position the drawstring 14 is tightened about the neck portions 19, thereby closing the edges and preventing, dust and dirt from entering the bags. Removal of the shoes may be accomplished by merely unzipping the zippers while the bag is hanging and extracting the shoes.

Shoes may also be carried in the containers of this invention without the need for conventional overwrappings or luggage. After the shoes have been placed within the pockets one may merely grasp the strand 14 at its central portion thus closing the necks 19, and carry the container to any desired location. The bags present a pleasing appearance as above described and are socially acceptable for carrying extra shoes when shopping, modeling or traveling.

It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments described herein without de parting from the principles of the invention disclosed; hence, the invention is to be construed as limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A plural component shoe container comprising, first and second pockets adapted to store shoes,

said first and second pockets each being formed of a substantially opaque textile material and each having a front section,

a transparent panel mounted on each front section a} and forming a window allowing visual access to the inside of each pocket,

21 drawstring extending between and afiixed to each of said pockets,

said drawstring providing a means for opening and closing each of said pockets,

and first and second independent access means mounted respectively on said first and second pockets.

2. A container. designed for use in carrying and storing shoes in convenient locations,

said container comprising,

first and second pockets of equal size each having a single textile sheet folded along a lower portion thereof to form a front and back section,

side edges of said textile sheets being sewn together forming upper neck portions on each of said pockets, a transparent plastic panel mounted on each front section and forming a window for each pocket allowing visual access to the inside thereof,

an access means affixed to each of said pockets allowing positioning of and removal of shoes from each of said pockets,

a drawstring extending between and forming an end less loop enclosing said first and second pockets about their neck portions,

said drawstring being slidably engaged with each of said neck portions whereby said neck portion may be closed by weight carried within said first and second pocket when said drawstring is retained in position and said pockets are freely suspended.

3. A shoe container in accordance with claim 2 wherein said drawstring is dimensioned so as to allow opening of one neck portion while retaining a second neck portion of a second pocket closed.

4. A plural compartment shoe container for carrying and storing shoes comprising,

first and second equally sized pockets each formed of a substantially opaque, non-self-supporting pliable material,

each of said pockets being formed of a planar front section and a planar back section whereby each pocket can be flattened and folded into a compact, wrinkle freepackage,

a transparent panel mounted on each pocket and forming a Window allowing visual access to the inside of each of said pockets,

first and second means for opening and closing said pockets mounted respectively on said first and second pockets,

an endless draw string extending between and encircling said pockets whereby a portion of said draw string may be looped over a horizontal support and said pockets balanced on either side of said support,

said draw string being slidably attached to each of said pockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,843 Grant Aug. 21, 1939 2,979,098 Greaves Apr. 11, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,550 Great Britain of 1899 859,482 France June 3, 1940 

1. A PLURAL COMPONENT SHOE CONTAINER COMPRISING, FIRST AND SECOND POCKETS ADAPTED TO STORE SHOES, SAID FIRST AND SECOND POCKETS EACH BEING FORMED OF A SUBSTANTIALLY OPAQUE TEXTILE MATERIAL AND EACH HAVING A FRONT SECTION, A TRANSPARENT PANEL MOUNTED ON EACH FRONT SECTION AND FORMING A WINDOW ALLOWING VISUAL ACCESS TO THE INSIDE OF EACH POCKET, A DRAWSTRING EXTENDING BETWEEN AND AFFIXED TO EACH OF SAID POCKETS, SAID DRAWSTRING PROVIDING A MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING EACH OF SAID POCKETS, AND FIRST AND SECOND INDEPENDENT ACCESS MEANS MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND POCKETS. 